Creamy Pesto Chicken Recipe

Calendar icon Published: Dec 10th 2021 by Rachael Ottier Hart
Clock icon Last updated: Dec 17th 2024
Read time: 2 mins
Cuisine:
This recipe, developed through the collective effort of at least 6 experts, underwent meticulous research and testing for over 3 months. Learn more about our process in the art and science behind our recipes or read how we use AI responsibly. This post may contain affiliate links. Read our Disclosure Policy.
Front view of Creamy Pesto Chicken in a plate with salad on the back

Many of us are familiar with the quick and easy pasta and seasonings in a box where you add tuna, chicken, or ground beef to create a meal. While these options are made for people with busy lives, we are here to help you see that you don’t have to sacrifice taste to save time. Our easy-to-follow Creamy Pesto Chicken is a great one-pot meal that’s delicious and ready in less than 30 min. And unlike the store-bought box version, it’s more nutritious because we use fresh herbs, seasonings, and vegetables with no preservatives or MSG.

Rate
Average: 5 (4 votes)
Total rating includes sum of all comments and anonymous votes.

Click to avoid screen dimming during cooking.

Time & Serves

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Serves
4

Ingredients

  • 4 Boneless chicken breasts or thighs

  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter

  • 3 cloves Garlic - minced

  • 400 grams Penne Pasta

  • 300 ml Chicken Broth

  • 200 ml Soy Milk

  • 200 ml Silken Soft Tofu

  • 3 ounces Basil Pesto

  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese - grated

  • 1 pint Cherry tomatoes sliced in half

  • 1 cup Kale - chopped

  • Salt & Black Pepper

Instructions

Slice the chicken into bite-size chunks, season with salt, black pepper, and garlic, and then set aside in a container.

Add the butter and bring it to medium heat using a large deep skillet. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken and sauté for 10-15 min until cooked through and golden brown.

Add the chicken broth to the skillet Increase the heat to medium-high. Then, once the liquid starts to boil, stir in the pasta.

Turn the heat down to medium-low, cover, and let cook for 8-10 minutes or until the pasta is tender and most of the broth has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

While the pasta is cooking, use a high-powered blender to mix the soy milk and tofu into a smooth cream, add more milk if necessary.

Once the pasta is mostly cooked, mix in the cream mixture, pesto, and Parmesan cheese until everything is combined.

Mix the cherry tomato halves and the kale and cook until the kale is wilted.

Season with salt and black pepper, remove from the heat, and serve warm in serving plates.

Rachael Ottier Hart
Author:
Culinary Storyteller & Spa Manager

More posts by Rachael Ottier Hart

Unlock Exclusive Recipes & More! 🔓

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest recipes, holiday specials, and mouthwatering secrets!

Subscribe

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.